Automatic fish-cleaning device



Jan. 3, 1939. A. v. SULLIVAN AUTOMATIC FISH CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC FISH CLEANING DEVICE ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1939. A. v. SULLIVAN AUTOMATIC FISH CLEANING DF JVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTR.

I v ATTORNEY:

Jan. 3, 1939. A. v. SULLIVAN AUTOMATIC-FISH CLEANING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 21 1936 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1939. A. v. SULLIVAN AUTOMATIC FISH CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Jan. 3, 1939. A, v. SULLIVAN AUTOMATIC FISH CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1956 8- Sheets-Sheet 6 I n 1 I I I I l l Ill Minimal:

A lllllll l INVENTOR.

A. V. SULLIVAN Jan. 3, 1939.

AUTOMATIC FISH CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 70 71 m )H n INVENTOR.

'ATTOl QNEYS Jan 3, 1939.

' A. v. SULLIVAN I 2,142,420

AUTOMATIC FISH CLEANING DEVICE s Sheets-She et 8 Filed Sept. 21, 1956 INVENTOR- ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1939 AUTOMATIC FISH-CLEANING DEVICE Albert Vincent Sullivan, San Francisco, Calif., as-

signor to California Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of New York Application September 21, 1936, Serial No. 101,690

12 Claims.

The present invention is directed to an automatic device whereby fish varying in size may be automatically and rapidly beheaded, de-tailed, gutted and cleaned. The apparatus of this inventionis particularly adapted for use in canneries or other establishments in which large quantities of fish of the same species but varying in size have to be cleaned preparatory to cooking, rendering, canning, or other operation.

machine capable of receiving fish of various sizes and discharging them in cleansed condition, maximum quantities of clean edible fish being produced.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide automatic means for beheading and de-tailing fish, the tie-tailing means being automatically adjustable in accordance with the fish thickness and not dependent upon length of the The device of this invention thoroughly cleanses fish. lo the fish without wastage and has been employed A further object of the invention is to disclose with great success in the cleaning of mackerel and provide means for supporting and conveying prior to canning and cooking. fish past a plurality of cleansing and de-gutting Prior large scale operations of fish cleaning, means.

particularly on fish such as mackerel (as dis- A still further object of the invention is to 15 tinguished from salmon and other large fish) indisclose and provide a combination of elements volved tremendous amounts of manual labor and and means for driving the same in timed relation. were thus extravagantly time-consuming. Such ther objects, uses, advantages, modifications manual cleaning methods have often been unand adaptations of the invention will become satisfactory and incomplete, the operators perapparent to those skilled in the art from the 0 mitting some of the internal organs to remain following detailed description of one preferred in the visceral cavity. The present invention reembodiment of a complete machine, shown in lates to an apparatus which rapidly and econome p ed drawings for p p s O ust aically beheads and de-tails the fish, the device tion. In such drawings:

automatically compensating for fish of varying Fig, 1 diagrammatically represents the clean- 25 length so that unnecessary amounts of fiesh are ing machine of this invention and its relationnot cut off simply because the fish are of varyship to other units, such as a cutting machine ing lengths. Moreover, the cleansing device of and canning machine in a fish cannery.

, this invention assures complete removal of all Fig. 2 is a p an V w Of the entire Cleaning internal organs including those tenaciously adc e. 30

hering members and membranes which ordinarily Fig. 3 is a side elevation. are to be found in the visceral cavity adjacent the Pie 4 s a d view of the device us r d backbone of the fish. As many as sixty fish per in Fi 2. minute may be automatically and continuously Fig. 5 is an enlarged p View O a p o handled by the device of this invention, of the feeding conveyor and de-tailing means. 35

Generally stated, the machine of this inven- F g. 6 s a enlarged Vertical Sectien 0f the tion comprises a combination of conveyors, the feeding conveyor and de-tailing means shown in feeding conveyor being provided with means for Fig. holding fish in a transverse position. Means are Fig. '7 is a transverse section of the feeding also provided for beheading the fish and for cutconveyor showing the relationship between gill 40 ting off the tails of the fish. engaging means and fish carried by said con- Means are also provided for moving the fish veyor. transversely of the conveyor in a desired opera- Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of one of the gill tive relation with the tail cutting means, such engaging means.

means cooperating with gage means for limiting Fig. 9 is a simplified plan view illustrating a the transverse movement in accordance with fish form of conveyor adapted to carry fish in a verthickness. Means are then provided for carrytically inverted position into operative engageing the fish in a vertically inverted position along ment with cleaning means.

a path of travel. Ripping, gutting, scraping and Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed view, partly in Washing means are then positioned in such line vertical section, showing the ripping and cleans- 50 of travel so that the fish upon being discharged from the machine are in thoroughly cleansed condition.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to 1 disclose and provide an automatic fish cleaning ing means.

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken along the plane XIXI of Fig. 10.

Fig, 12 is a transverse section taken along the plane XIIX[I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken along the plane XIX-XIX of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a detailed face view of a pinion and crank employed in the device shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

Although a number of elements, movements and devices embodied in the illustrative form of apparatus are capable of being used in other machines, the description given hereinafter shall be particularly directed toward a complete fish handling and cleaning machine adapted for use in canneries, for the purpose of facilitating understanding. In canneries, large quantities of fish of the same general species or type are cleaned, out into desired lengths (generally substantially equivalent to the height of the can in which they are to be packed) and then placed in the cans. The fish are then cooked and the cans sealed. Obviously, numerous changes from this general method of operation are utilized by the canners, depending upon the type of fish, the type of pack, etc.

A general arrangement often used is illustrated in Fig. 1 wherein the cleaning machine so identified receives fish from a feeding conveyor indicated at 2, the cleansed fish being then discharged by a conveyor 3 onto another conveyor 4 which feeds the fish to the cutting machine. This ma.- chine cuts the fish into desired lengths and such lengths are then arranged upon a conveyor 5 which supplies the cut fish to a canning machine.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the cleaning machine to which this invention is primarily directed comprises a base provided with an extension I which supports a feeding conveyor 2.

As shown in more detail in Fig. '7, the feeding conveyor 2 may consist of a pair of continuous chains 6 carrying transverse members provided with upwardly extending fingers as indicated at 1. These fingers extend through a stationary table formed of longitudinal members 8 adapted to support the fish. Gill hooks 9 (shown in more detail in the perspective of Fig. 8) are attached to the fingers 1, the major portion of the gill hook extending forwardly of the fingers. These gill hooks 9 are adapted to enter the gill of the fish when the fish is laid on its side with its back pointing in the direction of travel of the conveyor 2. Each of the gill hooks 9 is provided with an upwardly and outwardly extending portion so that some free space exists below the plane of the table 8 on which the fish is slidably pushed by the conveyor 2. The continuous chains 6 of the conveyor 2 pass over suitable sprockets journaled on an adjustably positionable stud shaft, generally indicated at I0, and on similer sprockets ll mounted upon a driven shaft l2, the details of such shaft and drive being more clearly shown in Fig. 19. The sprockets H and the entire feeding conveyor 2 may be driven intermittently.

Fish are manually attached to the gill hooks 9 during periods of dwell of the conveyor 2. The

= fish, as has been stated, are placed with their backs facing the direction of travel. A plurality of presser shoes l3 are positioned above the feeding conveyor 2, such shoes being adapted to yieldably hold the fish on the feeding conveyor during the beheading and de-tailing operations. These shoes l3 are preferably supported by means of rods extending through a supporting frame [4, springs being employed for the purpose of yieldingly forcing the shoes against the fish. These shoes maintain the fish in position on the slotted table 8 while they are beheaded by a cutting means, such as the saw 15. The saw is mounted upon a driven shaft I6 carrying a sprocket l1 operably connected to another sprocket on a jack shaft I8, which jack shaft is then driven by suitable sprocket and chain means from a driving shaft I9 (see Fig. 2). The cutting saw I5 is positioned in a vertical plane which misses the gill hooks 9, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 6, and therefore beheads the fish, the out being made immediately back of the gills of the fish.

The next operation to which the fish are subjected is that of de-tailing. As the fish is moved away from the saw I5, its tail enters a vertically adjustable gage means. Such gaging means include a lower member with its upper surface substantialy in the plane of the slotted table 8 and a vertically adjustable upper member 2| mounted on a suitable holder 22. The space between members 28 and 2| determines the thickness of fish adjacent the tail which is to be cut off and discarded. Since some fish may be materially shorter than the Width of slotted table 8, means are provided for yieldably introducing the tail of the fish into the gaging means including members 20 and 2|. Such means are more specifically shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and comprise a reciprocating pusher provided with a head 23 mounted on rods 24 passing through suitable supports 25. The means for yicldably urging the pusher head 23 against the neck of the beheaded fish includes an internal cam 26 mounted upon a shaft 2'1. A bell crank provided with arms 28 and 29 is pivotally mounted at 30, the arm 29 being provided with a roller 3| cooperating with a cam groove 32 formed in the cam 26. The arm 28 is provided with a pivoted auxiliary arm 33 which is yieldably urged toward the arm 28 by means of a pin 34 and a spring 35. The ends of the arms 28 and 33 are provided with dogs adapted to engage with a member 36 attached to the rods 24. From an examination of Fig. 6 it will be seen that during the rotation of the cam 26 the bell crank lever, including arms 28 and 29, will be pivotally moved around the point 30.

The advance of the head 23 against the neck of the fish is accomplished by means of the yieldably held arm 33 so that when the tail of the fish completely enters the limiting space between the members 20 and 2|, further rotation of the cam 26 will not force the fish any further, the resistance offered by the gaging members 20 and 2| overcoming the tension of the spring which holds the arm 33. The second portion of the cam cycle causes the arm, 28 to move to the right (referring to Fig. 6), Withdrawing the pusher head 23.

The tail of the fish is then cut ofi by means of a suitable cutter such as the saw 38. The

cutting saw 38 may be mounted upon the jack shaft l8 referred to hereinbefore,

In view of the fact that the back of the fish is generally provided with fins which would engage with the upstanding fingers 7 of the con- 18"" 52 provided with upstanding dogs 53.

veyor and thereby impede the transverse movement of the fish towards the gaging means 20-2 means are provided for temporarily liberating the fish from contact with the fingers 7. Such means comprise a rocker shaft 39 transversely positioned above the feeding conveyor, the rocker shaft 39 being provided with a downw'ardly extending member provided with a series of fingers 4| adapted to extend between the fingers l and the longitudinally extending presser shoes i3. This rocker shaft 39 is periodically energized and moves the fish away from the fingers E into the position shown in Fig. 5.

The movement of the member 40 is then rapidly reversed, permitting the pusher 23 to move the fish into the gage means 29-2l before the fingers i can contact with the fish and proceed in advancing the same toward the cutting wheel 38. The rocker shaft 39 may be actuated by means of a crank '22, a link 3 and a bell crank lever -i (see Fig. 4), the lower end of the bell crank lever being provided with a roller in engagement with an internal cam 45 driven by a shaft 4? (see Fig. 17). It is to be understood that the movement of the rocker shaft 39 and member at is timed with respect to the movement of the pusher 23 and the movement of the feeding conveyor 2.

After the fish have been beheaded and detailed in the manner described, they are then discharged from the feeding conveyor 2 over the downwardly curved table portions 5|) shown in Fig. 4 onto the auxiliary conveyor mounted upon the sprocket 5| (Fig. 4), said auxiliary conveyor being substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the feeding conveyor 2. The fish now land upon this auxiliary conveyor in avertically inverted position, i, e-., belly up. The sprocket 5| carries a continuous conveyor chain The forward end of the chain 52 passes over a second sprocket 54. The dogs 53 are spaced a distance slightly in excess of the distance separating the planes of the cutting means l5 and 38 used for beheading and de-tailing the fish.

The auxiliary conveyor moves the fish into a conveying means which then brings the fish into operative relation with a plurality of cleaning devices. This cleaning conveyor is shown in plan in Fig. 9 and comprises a pair of opposing continuous chains 65] and GI preferably mounted in a substantially horizontal plane, the chains and GI carrying a plurality of projecting points 62, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 11. The opposing sides of the conveyors GB and BI are guidingly supported upon parallel rails 63 attached to a frame 64. If desired, a trough-like member 65 may be adjustably positioned between the two opposing lays of the conveyors 60 and '6], adjustment means being provided such as,

for example, the screw and bolt means 66$'l,

such bolt means cooperating with the brackets or frames 66 attached to the base of the machine,

In order to properly position and feed the fish into the cleaning conveyor, suitable guiding means may be provided between the sprocket 54 and that point of the conveyor at which the pointed members 62 actually enter the back of the fish and hold the fish in position. One form of adjustable guiding means is illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16. This positioning and guiding device is generallyindicated by the numeral 10 and is positioned at a point above the sprocket 54 and between the auxiliary conveyor carried by said sprocket and the cleaning conveyor comprising elements: 60 and 6|.

As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, this device may include a body portion H provided with two segmental gears I2v mounted on pins extending through the body portion. The segmental gears 12 carry downwardly depending spaced plate members 13 which normally tend to approach one another under the influence of a connecting bolt and spring combination indicated at 14. The forward portions of the plate members 13 are outwardly curved. Since the segmental gears interlock, angular positioning of the members 13 takes place simultaneously and equally. A fiat spring member 15 carried by the body portion H tends to hold the fish down.

The conveyors 6!) and 6| hold the fish by reason of the prongs or points 62 entering the back of the fish and in this manner the fish is carried past a plurality of cleaning devices. In operative relation to the path of travel of the fish on the conveyor and on the channel 65 there are positioned a cutting means, such as the rip saw 16, a gutting tool 11, a scraping tool 18, a longitudinal wiping wheel 19 and a transverse wiping tool 80. The rip saw 76 and the gutting tool 11 are preferably mounted as a single unit on a supporting member 8| pivoted about a stud 82. The other end of the member 8| is formed into a gutting tool T! and suspended from a member 83 by means of a rod 84 and spring 85 whereby the devices '55 and 1'! may yieldably press against the fish. The rip saw 16 is driven through a flexible coupling 86 (such as a flexible hose or universal joint) by a driven shaft 81 having a mitre gear connection with the driving shaft l9 (see Fig, 2).

In the event the weight of the members 16 and H is sufficient, spring 85 can be eliminated or it may be introduced between the top of the rod 84 and the member 83 for the purpose of relieving some of the load or pressure applied to the fish. After being ripped along the belly and gutted, the fish then moves in contact with the scraping tool 18, which is provided with a rounded nose adapted to enter the visceral cavity, and with a removable scraping member 88. This scraping member 88 is particularly designed to scrape the closely adhering membrane and organg found in the visceral cavity adjacent the backbone of the fish. After being scraped in this manner, the visceral cavity of the fish is wiped out by means of a revolving wheel 19 which may be constructed in a number of different ways. As shown, the wheel 19 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending rubber or other resilient and flexible members 89. While being scraped out by the wheel 19 the outer surfaces of the fish are supported by means of curved members 98 (see Figs. 10 and 13). Thereafter the visceral cavity of the fish is maintained open by means of members 9| which may form a part of a member connecting the scraping elements 18 and the bearing for the wheel 19. The wheel 19 is preferably mounted in a yoke 92 pivoted about a stud bolt 93. The member 9| as well as the wheel 19 may be maintained in floating position above the path of travel of the fish by means of a rod and spring arrangement indicated at 94.

After being ripped, gutted, scraped and wiped, the fish is further wiped by a. transverse movement. Since the belly walls of a fish are quite thin, such transverse movement would ordinarily tear the flesh and otherwise disfigure the fish, 75

The transverse movement is imparted by means of a substantially conical member 83 mounted for: rotation within a tube 95 upon a shaft 96. The member 80 may be made of molded rubber or the like. The members 9I protect the inner walls of the visceral cavity as illustrated in Fig. 14, permitting the wiping tool 86 to thoroughly cleanse that area of the cavity adjacent the backbone. During such cleansing operation the exterior' walls of the visceral cavity are supported by means: of curved members 91. The shaft 96 and: themember 80 revolve about an axis longitudinally disposed with respect to the fish and substantially atright angles to the plane in which the wiping wheeli'I9- rotates. The wiping element 80 is fioatingly suspended from the support 83 by means of a bolt and spring suspension indicated at 98.

After these various elements have operated upon the fish, it will be found that the fish is thoroughly clean. Occasionally some small flecks of material may be found within the visceral cavity and for this reason a suction pipe 539 may be caused to extend into the visceral cavities of the fish, such. suction removing any liquor or small remaining particles. It is to be understood that. supplies of flushing water may be introduced along the lines at various points as indicated at. I a l HM and I02 for the purpose i of removing visceral remains and assisting in cleaning the fish.

The shaft 96 which carries the transverse wiping tool: 80' is driven through a mitre gear carried on a jack shaft I03. This jack shaft is driven through mitre gears (shown in Fig. 2) from the: driven shaft I9. This driven shaft also drives the longitudinal wiping wheel 19 through a flexible connection 14- and the rip saw I6. It is to be observed that the same driving shaft I9 supplies power to the saws I and 38 in the manner described hereinbefore. Means for driving the shaft I9 are not shown but may take any suitable form.

Although all of the moving parts of the complete machine may be driven from a single source, it is preferred to have two separate drives, one for the relatively high speed elements, such as the saws and wipers above described, and another for the conveyors, rocker arms, etc. The main drive shaft shown in the drawings is indicated at I05 and by meansof suitable reduction gearing IIU-III drives the shaft 41 (see Fig. 1'7). The shaft 41 is provided with a mitre gear I06 which is in engagement with mitre gears carried by two short shafts, namely, shaft 21 and shaft I08; The latter carries sprocket 5-I which drives the auxiliary conveyor. The former shaft 21 carries the cam 26 which actuates the pusher 23" (see Figs. 5 and 6 for further details).

The gear III carried by the shaft 41 may also drive a large gear II2. This large gear may be journaled upon a stationary stud shaft II3 (see Figs. 18-l9). The gear II2 carries a pair of diametrically opposed pins I I4 and I I5 extending beyond the face of the gear. A pinion is mounted on each of these pins, the pinions being identified at H6 and III. Each of the pinions is provided with a crank, such as H8 and IIS, and each of the cranks carries a roller, the rollers being indicated at I and I2I. The cranks, such as crank II8, may be firmly attached to the pinions by means of screws or the like; as shown in- Fig. 20.

The pinions. H6 and II I are. in engagement with a fixed'spur gear I 22 keyed to the stationary stud shaft H3. The gear H2 is continuously driven and during rotation thereof the pinions I I'6--II'I- travel about the circumference of the fixed gear I22. The rollers I20 and I 2I are slidably positioned within a yoke member I23 pro- Vided. with slots in alignment. The yoke I23 is firmly attached to a tubular shaft I2 journaled uponthe stud shaft II3. By means of the elements described the continuous rotation of gear H2 is transformed into an intermittent rotation of the tubular shaft I2. For example, when it is assumed that the roller carried by the crank attached to one of the pinions is in the bottom of a slot in the yoke member I23 and in the position indicated at A in Fig. 18, rotation of the gear I2 through one-half revolution will cause the roller to move upwardly in such slot and then downwardh into the position indicated at.

B. During this cycle of operations the yoke I23 revolves rapidly during the central portion of. the path and is substantially stationary at points A and. B. In. other words, every rotation of the gear H2. is converted by the elements described into two rapid partial rotations. with intervening dwell periods, such intermittent rotation being then transmitted to the tubular shaft. I2, sprockets II carried thereby and the feeding convevor 2 driven by said sprockets.

It is to be understood that. although a particular method of driving the apparatus has been described, other driving means may be employed and those skilled in the art will have no difficulty in adapting the various units, movements and combinations of elements disclosed. herein to the circumstances and conditions encountered in various adaptations of the invention.

The shaft 47 may extend along the machine and terminate in a mitre gear I which is in engagement with a mitre gear I.3I mounted upon a shaft I32. This shaft is suitably journaled and is provided with mitre gears capable of driving sprockets I33 and I34 in opposite directions (see Fig. 9). These sprockets then carry the continuous conveyor chains and BI. Idler sprockets I35. and I35 are also provided at the opposite end with two or more additional guiding sprockets for the purpose of maintaining the conveyor chains taut and gradually bringing such chains to the required distance apart, thereby permitting the prongs 62 to enter the fish near the feed end.

Since a description of the mode of operation has accompanied the description of the mechanical construction of the device, it is not necessary to review the entire mode of operation of the machine. It will be observed that the fish are intermittently fed into the machine, permitting the operators to attach the fish to the feeding conveyors by means of gill hooks. The gill hooks insure beheading of the fish at a point immediately in back of the gills. The fish are then moved transversely into engagement with gaging means after the fish have been liberated from the prongs of the feeding conveyor for the purpose of clearing the fins. The gaging means properly position the fish with respect to the defailing saw so that no excessive quantity of fish is cut off but instead the entire tail and but a very small portion of the body of the fish are cut off. The fish are then moved onto the auxiliary conv-eyor and properly placed thereon in a vertically inverted position whereupon they are picked up by the cleansing conveyor, being held by the points 62. During cleansing, the belly of the fish is rippedopen and the fish are de-gutted, "5

scraped and repeatedly wiped and rinsed. As a result, the machine discharges completely cleaned fish in a very rapid and economical manner without injuring the fish and without waste.

Attention is called to the fact that the various elements of the device described hereinabove are driven in timed relation to each other so that the various operations are carried out without interference and in proper sequential arrangement. For example, the intermittent movement of the feeding conveyor 2 is timed with the reciprocating movement of the pusher head 23 so that the prongs I of the conveyor are stationary at the time that the reciprocating head 23 pushes the fish transversely onto table 8. Furthermore, the rocker means 40 actuated by the rocker shaft 39 are actuated at the beginning of the dwell period of the conveyor 2 and immediately before the pusher 23 is actuated so that the fish is liberated from contact with the prongs of the conveyor 2 by the rocker arm 4i! and said rocker arm starts its return stroke before the pusher 23 moves the fish transversely.

Preferably the speed of the auxiliary conveyor mounted on sprockets 5| and 54 is correlated with the speed of the feeding conveyor and the speed of the cleansing conveyor 6@6i. The spacing of the dogs 53 on the auxiliary conveyor should also be correlated with the speed of the feeding conveyor so that the fish are properly fed onto the auxiliary conveyor and the cleansing conveyor.

The speed of rotation of the various scraping means and saws is ordinarily adjusted to say between 200 and 1200 R. P. M., depending upon the type of saw, type of cleansing elements, and the like.

I claim:

1. In a fish cleaning machine, the combination of: a substantially horizontal feeding conveyor, cutting means adapted to behead fish carried by said feeding conveyor, separate tail cutting means, means for moving beheaded fish transversely on said conveyor into desired operative relation with said tail cutting means, and means for yieldably holding fish during beheading and tail cutting operations.

2. In a machine of the character described in claim 1, the combination of gage means for limiting the transverse movement of beheaded fish on said conveyor in accordance with thickness of said fish.

3. In a fish cleaning machine, the combination of a substantially horizontal feeding conveyor, means for intermittently driving said conveyor, cutting means adapted to behead fish carried by said feeding conveyor, separate tail cutting means, means for moving beheaded fish transversely on said conveyor in the desired operative relation with said tail cutting means during periods of dwell of said conveyor, and gage means for limiting said transverse movement in accordance with fish thickness.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an intermittently driven feeding conveyor and a continuously driven cleansing conveyor, means for transferring fish from said feeding conveyor to said cleansing conveyor, and means for driving said feeding conveyor and cleansing conveyor from a common source, said means including a continuously driven shaft operably connected to said cleansing conveyor, 2. fixed stud shaft, a continuously driven gear member journaled thereon, said gear member being driven by said continuously driven. shaft, a

pair of diametrically opposed pins carried by said drivengear member, a pinion on each of said pins, a fixed gear mounted on the stud shaft and in engagement with said pinions, a roller crank journaled on each" of said pins, a yoke member provided with slots inalignment, said slots being adapted to receive rollers carried by said cranks, said yoke being connected to an intermittently driven shaft in axial alignment.

with said fixed stud shaft, [said intermittently driven shaft being driven by said pinions and. roller cranks, said intermittently driven shaft being operably connected to said intermittently driven feeding conveyor.

5. In an apparatus of the character described in claim 4, the combination of beheading means and de-tailing means in operative relation to said feeding conveyor.

6. In a machine of the character described in claim 4, the provision of beheading means in operative relation to said feeding conveyor, separate tail cutting means, means for moving fish transversely on said feeding conveyor into desired operative relation with said tail cutting means, and means for yieldably holding fish on said feeding conveyor during beheading and detailing operations.

'7. In a machine of the character described, the provision of a feeding conveyor, beheading and de-tailing means in operative relation to said feeding conveyor, means for yieldably holding fish on said feeding conveyor during beheading and de-tailing operations, a cleansing conveyor, and means for transferring fish from said feeding conveyor to said cleansing conveyor, means for continuously driving said cleansing conveyor, and a continuously rotating driving means for said cleansing conveyor including means for translating continuous rotation into an intermittent movement of said feeding conveyor.

8. A machine of the character described in claim 7 in which the cleansing conveyor comprises a pair of opposing continuously driven endless members provided with opposing points adapted to enter, hold and move fish along a path of travel, and a fioatingly suspended ripping saw, gutting tool, scraper, longitudinally acting wiping means and transversely acting wiping means in operative sequential relation to fish moving along said line of travel whereby fish may be gutted and cleaned while being advanced along said line of travel.

9. In a machine of the character described, the provision of a feeding conveyor provided with horizontally extending gill hooks along one edge thereof, beheading and de-tailing means in operative relation to said feeding conveyor, means for yieldably holding fish on said feeding conveyor during beheading and de-tailing operations, a cleansing conveyor, means for transferring fish from said feeding conveyor to said cleansing conveyor, means for continuously driving said cleansing conveyor, and a continuously rotating driving means for said cleansing conveyor including means for translating continuous rotation into an intermittent movement and intermittently driving said feeding conveyor.

10. A machine of the character described in claim 9 in which the beheading and de-tailing means are linearly spaced along said feeding conveyor, and means between said beheading and de-tailing means for moving beheaded fish transversely on said conveyor into the desired operative relation with said de-tailing means.

1 In a machine of the character described,

versely on said conveyor into desired operative relation with said tail cutting means.

12. A machine of the character described in claim 11 including a cleansing conveyor, means for transferring fish from said feeding conveyor to said cleansing conveyor, means for continuously driving said cleansing conveyor, and a continuously rotating driving means for said cleansing conveyor including means for translating continuous rotation into an intermittent move- 10 ment of said feeding conveyor.

ALBERT VINCENT SULLIVAN. 

